The ruling on using Zakāh money to repay debts and giving Zakāh to family members

Question:

I’m in debt with my wife, is it allowed for me to repay her from the Zakāt of my wealth?

Answer:

No, debts are not repayed from the Zakāh. Repay it from other avenues, as for Zakāh, it is something obligatory other than repaying debts. Not to his wife or other than her.

(إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَٰتُ لِلْفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلْمَسَٰكِينِ وَٱلْعَٰمِلِينَ عَلَيْهَا)

“As-Sadaqat (here it means Zakat) are only for the Fuqara’ (poor), and Al-Masakin (the poor) and those employed to collect (the funds);” [Tawbah, 69]

So it is Sadaqah, debts are not repayed with it.

Question:

Is it allowed for me to give my married daughter from the Zakāh of my wealth?

Answer:

Yes, if she and her husband are needy then it’s allowed for you, because it’s not incumbent upon you to spend on her, her expenditure is upon her husband after marriage. And the majority are upon that those who it’s incumbent for you to spend on, you don’t give them your Zakāh. Because if it’s incumbent upon you to spend upon them and you gave them Zakāh, it means that you are giving in exchange for spending upon them. So it’s like you didn’t give Zakāh. As for this one who has become married with her husband.

قلت يا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما حق زوجة أحدنا عليه‏؟‏ قال‏:‏ ‏”‏أن تطعمها إذا طعمت ، وتكسوها إذا اكتسيت ولا تضرب الوجه، ولا تقبح

I said: “O Messenger of Allāh, what is the right of the wife of one of us upon him?” He replied, “You should give her food when you eat, clothe her when you clothe yourself, not strike her on the face, and do not revile her.”

So her expenditure is upon her husband and it’s not upon you, so it’s allowed for you.

Answered by: Shaykh, the Allamah, the Trustworthy Advisor, Abu Abdirrahman Yahya bin Ali Al-Hajuri – may Allah preserve him

Source: https://t.me/sh_yahia_duroos/9046

Translated by: Abū ‘Abdillāh ‘Omar bin Yahya Al-‘Akawi